CANADA
Catholic Register
BY CATHOLIC REGISTER EDITORIAL
June 9, 2016
Change comes slowly at the Vatican. On the issue of clerical sexual abuse of children, Rome’s methodical approach has caused Pope Francis to endure barbs for dallying on a pledge to get tough on abusers within the Church.
So it was good news on June 3 when Francis was able, at last, to issue an edict that puts bishops on the front line of accountability. By formalizing new rules that provide for the removal of bishops who fail to act, or who act insufficiently, when becoming aware of an abuser priest, the Pope has not only advanced the cause of justice for child victims and vulnerable adults, but has taken a small but important step on the long road towards repairing the Church’s wounded reputation.
The apostolic letter is appropriately titled “As a loving Mother.” That is how bishops are expected to act — like mothers nurturing their children. Of course, the vast majority of them already do. Many individual dioceses have been way ahead of the Vatican in implementing strict guidelines and accepting responsibility on this subject.
But there has also been numerous cases of bishops, confronted by a guilty priest, who have protected, transferred or covered up for an abuser. Almost as much as the crime itself, that response appalled the general public and particularly horrified Catholics. A see-no-evil response also left many dioceses exposed to multi-million-dollar lawsuits while undermining trust and tarnishing the Church’s moral authority.
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